Dance with the Dragon (McGarvey, 12)

by David Hagberg

Book Overview

The CIA is on edge. All signs indicate that something is coming at the United States. Perhaps another 9/11, maybe bigger. The body of CIA agent Louis Updegraf ends up on the steps of the US Embassy in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765347342
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Forge Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 1.2" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Major Problems For CIA In Mexico City

I've read most,if not all, of the Kirk McGarvey series and enjoyed them all. This was certainly no exception. An interesting plot with a number of well developed characters. Of course McGarvey is his usual superlative self. Then come the others. CIA Mexico City station chief Gilbert Perry--well bred,with high ambitions and financial problems. CIA Deputy Director of Operations Howard McCann,relatively minor role but still an obnoxious bureaucrat. Otto Rencke McGarvey's friend and ally. Computer genius. General Liu Hung, Chinese espionage expert operating in Mexico but for who? He's from a wealthy well connected family and has financial issues of his own. He gets his kicks strangling women during sexual acts. He's looking for a huge payoff from a project he's working on. Then comes a beautiful mysterious Iranian woman Shahrzad Shadmand who had performed as a dancer in exotic men's clubs and had an affair with a murdered CIA operative Louis Updegraf who had his own ambitions and personal agenda. Next up is Gloria Ibenez a beautiful Cuban CIA operative in love with McGarvey but another one with her own agenda. Put all these characters together and it gets quite interesting. Rencke's computer programs show great danger to the U.S. McGarvey is brought back from retirement to get to the bottom of things. He discovers a horrendous Hezbollah scheme to cause much carnage and many deaths in the U.S. I found this to be a riveting enjoyable continuation in the series. Though I'm getting a bit tired of McGarvey's constantly coming out of retirement. Maybe it's time for him to forget about retirement even though he's getting older.

He Did It Again

Hagberg is the King of the thriller novel. He did it again with Dance With The Dragon. To bad we don't really have a MacGarvey to defend our way of life.

Beowulf lives in Kirk McGarvey

An outstanding thriller. I have not read a Hagberg novel since Joshua's Hammer many years ago. It was good but there are so many excellent espionage writers today that I simply lost touch with Mr. Hagberg and his protagonist CIA operative Kirk McGarvey. Well, after reading Dance with the Dragon I am going to go back and read all the previous McGarvey books in the series. In essence, Dance with the Dragon is a tightly written, well thought out espionage story with numerous twists and turns to keep the reader on their mental toes. The plot flows with ease and just when you think you have it figured out it makes a hard turn keeping you guessing. Excellent use of detail and espionage trade craft. Fast paced with plenty of action, but presented in a realistic light so that the reader does not become jaded or fatigued. Basically, The story revolves around a "rogue"(?) Chinese top espionage agent, General Liu, and his past and present secretive actions and life. He is a devious, sexual deviant, egocentric sociopath that prides himself on his ability to outwit and control everything and everyone in his surroundings. He is extremely successful until he goes too far and has murdered a CIA operative in Mexico. Enter Kirk McGarvey, retired DCI (Director of Central Intelligence), who is asked by the current DCI to investigate the death. Thus commences the "Dance" between McGarvey and Liu. Excellently told, David Hagberg weaves a wonderfully intricate tale of suspense, love, death, and action. One of the highlights of this book is the superb character development throughout. Mr. Hagberg does a terrific job of fleshing out ALL his characters, warts and all. He goes to great lengths to insure the reader has an understanding of what is motivating the story's diverse cast of characters. His use of descriptive dialog between the characters is both energetic and informative and helps build the story's suspense. Some EXTREME and graphic sex and violence. Be warned that Mr. Hagberg pulls no punches and some of the narrative could be upsetting to some readers. All germane to the story but explicit. Some strong language but in the real world of espionage this is how people talk. Highly recommended. Excellent for that long, boring transoceanic flight or wait in the dentist office.

Another Riveting Adventure

See storyline above. Also one of my favorite series. Hagberg writes with depth and clarity. The plots are always topical and the action riveting. If you've read previous novels in this series you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Hagberg only gets BETTER! Kirk McGarvey ROCKS.

I have stated for quite some time that in a hand-to-hand combat, I'd pick Kirk McGarvey over James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan and maybe even Jack Bauer...not only that, but Kirk is by FAR the most REAL of any reluctant action hero in print (or movies for that matter). Yes, I know he is a fictional character, but David Hagberg has crafted a character that is instantly more relatable because of his flaws and self-doubt. He suffers (boy has he suffered...) and has bouts of depression and yet he see's through it all to the big picture. He basically despises what he has become (with help from good old Uncle Sam) and yet denying who he truly IS has its price, too. Throughout the Kirk McGarvey novels (ALL of which are AWESOME), we have seen him work, grow, quit, come back again and save the day--even when he was set up by his superiors and by all rights should have just allowed certain events to just HAPPEN--he eventually stayed true to himself and thought he put his horrible past behind him as he became Director of Central Intelligence for the United States. Before long, events steered him back to what he does best: hunt down and kill bad guys. Dance With The Dragon was in part everything I have come to expect from my favorite Techno Thriller author, and yet was crafted in an almost entirely different manner than pretty much most of his previous novels. In the past we discover truths and secrets right along with Kirk...and yet here the more that Kirk uncovers, the more confusing things seem to become. Oh, but don't worry, David Hagberg knows what he's doing. I have to echo that in the past, Hagberg has been frighteningly prophetic with the storylines of several novels of his...how does he do it? I am sure that is one secret that he'll keep to himself, but I must say that I hope & pray that this is yet another plot that does NOT come true. For those looking for a thriller that has ALL the elements of what made Tom Clancy REALLY good back prior to his novels becoming stale and downright boring, you really OWE it to yourself to get to know Kirk McGarvey. But don't stop there. I haven't ready anything he has produced that I did not really enjoy. As another reviewer has mentioned, the ONLY gripe I have with this novel is the length of time I will end up waiting for the next one to hit the shelves. Highly Recommended.